LeBron James came off the injury report Saturday evening, moving from Day-To-Day to Cleared. The 76ers host the Pacers on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET with a forward who missed three games with back and torso trouble.
What happened
The official injury report on Saturday, Nov 14, at 5:28 PM ET changed LeBron James from Day-To-Day to Cleared. The report gave no detail and no comment with the move. His previous status carried the back and torso designation. That issue has gone back and forth this month. He was Out on Oct 31, Day-To-Day and then Cleared on Nov 1, Day-To-Day again on Nov 11, Out on Nov 12 and back to Day-To-Day later that same day. Saturday's entry is the first time he has been cleared since Nov 1. No return date applies now because the report does not list him.
What it means for the 76ers
Philadelphia is 10-3, holds the second seed and has won its last game. The next one is vs Pacers on Sunday, Nov 15, at 1:00 PM ET. James, 41, is averaging 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 32.6 minutes over 10 games. The 76ers are 7-3 with him and 3-0 without him. In those three games, Tyrese Maxey (36.2 minutes, 26.7 points), Jaylen Brown (35.0, 21.2) and VJ Edgecombe (33.7, 12.9) carried the heaviest loads. Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti are all Out on the report, so the rotation is still thin around him.
What to watch
James has no designation heading into Sunday, so the next thing to check is whether he starts and how many minutes he plays against the Pacers after missing time. His back and torso issue has returned before after he was cleared, so the next injury report is worth checking. No return timeline is needed for him, but the report still lists Embiid (right foot and leg), Bona and Barlow (back and torso) and Hukporti (right Achilles and leg) as Out. Their status will shape how much the 76ers lean on James.
Is LeBron James playing vs Pacers on Sunday?
He is cleared and not on the injury report for the 1:00 PM ET game on Sunday, Nov 15. The 76ers have not announced a minutes plan.
When will LeBron James be back?
He is already cleared. He was Day-To-Day with a back and torso issue and missed the previous three games. No expected return date is announced because none is needed.